Folding table



(No Model.)

M. O. BULLOCK.

FOLDING TABLE.

No. 358,833. Patented Mar. 8, 1887.

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ATENT MARSHALL G. BULLOCK, OF HANNIBAL, MISSOURI.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 858,833, dated March 8,1887. Application filed September 13, 1886. Serial No. 213,369. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it k nownthat I, MARsnALL O. BULrooK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hannibal, in the county of Marion and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Rolling Tables;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has relation to improvements in rolling tables, such asmay be used by paper-hangers, display-tables, sa1uplc-tables,and tablesfor other similar purposes, as will be fully understood from thefollowing description, when taken in connection with the air nexeddrawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the table in aninverted position. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view showing the legs andbraces in a closed position and in a manner to be rolled up. Fig. 3 isan end view; and Fig. 4 is a detailperspective view of the leg-joints,showing the locking pin orbolt of one ofthe braces in position.

Referring by letter to the said drawings, A indicates the flexible top,which is composed of longitudinal slats a and transverseconnecting-strips B. These-strips are here shown as composed of leather,placed on the under side of the said slats, and secured to each slat bymetallic plates 0 and tacks or other suitable fastening devices. Insecuring the leather strips to the slats I place the plates 0 obliquelyto the latter and place a tack or the like through the holes at oppositeends of the plates. These plates are about as wide as the slats, and byplacing them obliquely thereon it will be seen that the securing-tackswill be broughtnearly to the longitudinal edges of the slats, therebysecurely holding the same and preventing them from rising or pullingaway from the plates when the top is folded.

D D indicate transverse locking-bars, to which the legs are secured, onenear opposite ends thereof. These locking-bars are two in number, onenear each end of the top, and

are respectively pivoted at one end to the un- V der side of one of theouter slats, as shown, the opposite outer slat being provided with acatch to engage and firmly hold the free ends of the transverselocking-bars when the top is out in an open position.

The legs F are secured to the locking-bars near opposite ends, and atopposite sides from the longitudinal center thereof, so as to allow thesaid legs to fold upon the said bar and the whole swing around parallelupon one of the outer slats of the top A. In the present con struction Ihave shown the legs secured to the lockbars by hinge-and-swivel joint,so that should it be desirable to let down the table without rolling itup it will only be necessary to release the locking-bolt of the bracesand turn the former upon the under side of the top, and the whole willbecome a flat parcel. This latter manner of letting down the table isseldom desirable, and, in fact, is only done when the table is not to becarried from place to place.

The legs F are recessed in their adjacent faces about midway of theirlength, and are perforated transversely at these points, so that whenthe said recessed portions are brought together thelegs will assume acrossed position, and the perforations (2 will register for thereception of the locking pins or bolt and the diagonal braces G, as willbe presently explained. These diagonal braces G are hinged to adjacentslats of the top at or near the middle thereof, and the outer ends ofthese braces are cut obliquely, as shown at e, to firmly en gage thelegs at their joints on the inner side thereof.

H indicate the locking bolts or pins, which are pivoted at one end tothesides of the diagonal braces, and their opposite ends are rounded toenter the perforations of the legs, and notched or adapted to receivethe springfastening I, secured to the outer side of the outer legs.

Thus it will be seen that when the legs are crossed and engaged by theirrecessed portions the bolts of the diagonal braces are inserted in theperforations of the said legs, when the latter will be firmly locked andbraced in position. The table being thus set up, and it being desirableto take it down, the

spring-fastenings H are first released from the bolt and the latterwithdrawn from the perforations of the legs. Ihe legs are then foldeddown upon the transverse locking-bars, and after the free ends of thelatter have been freed from the catches E the latter, together with thelegs, are swung around on their pivots, the diagonal braces are thenfolded down, when the whole may be rolled up within the top, so I as toform a small parcel of approximately round contour.

I am aware that it is not new to provide a table having a rolling topwith pivoted bars for holding the same in an open position, and thatsuch tables have pivoted connections for looking the legs when unfolded.I am also aware that a folding table has been made with a top composedof a plank having cleats on its under side near opposite ends, with thegrain in a different direction from that of the top to prevent thelatter from warping, a plate hinged Having described this invention,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a rolling-top table, the combination, with the pivoted bars on theunder side of the said top for holding the same in an open position, thecross-legs having perforations at their bisecting-points and pivoted tothe said bars, the locking devices, as I, on one leg adjacent to thesaid perforations, and the diagonal braces hinged to the under side ofthe top, and having locking-bolts at their outer ends adapted to enterthe perforations in the legs, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a table-top, of hinged or pivoted legs adaptedto cross each other, and having transverse perforations at V theircrossing-points, and locking devices, as I, and a brace hinged to theunder side of the top and carrying at its outer end a bolt, H, adaptedto enter the perforations in the legs and be engaged by the said lockingdevices thereon, whereby the legs will be braced laterally andvertically, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

M ARSHALL O. BULLOCK.

\Vitnesses:

GEORGE GATTS, A. J. BASH.

